Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco-Mali: Mbappé appears in the stands

Their careers took them far from each other, but their personal relationship certainly didn’t follow the same trajectory. Even though today they wear different shirts and compete on stages more than a thousand kilometers apart, Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi continue to move as if nothing has changed. The latest confirmation came directly from the stands in Rabat. On the occasion of the match between Morocco and Mali, valid for the second day of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Real Madrid striker was assigned to the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, where he showed up to closely support his friend and former teammate.

friendship born in Paris

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Before the move to Madrid, Mbappé and Hakimi had shared much more than a dressing room at Paris Saint-Germain. On and off the pitch, their relationship had become one of the most recognizable of the Parisian group, a harmony built between training, matches and daily life in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. However, when their professional paths diverged, the bond did not weaken. Indeed, it continued to manifest itself on public and private occasions, until the Moroccan evening which captured the attention of fans and cameras.

mbappe in the stands

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During the match, Hakimi did not start, managed with caution by coach Walid Regragui after the recent ankle injury he suffered with the club. But he had an exceptional supporter in the stands. Mbappé appeared smiling on the stadium’s big screen, wearing the Morocco shirt with the number 2 under his jacket, Hakimi’s own. A detail immediately noticed by the audience, who reacted with long applause. The Frenchman’s presence was not a coincidence: according to local media, Mbappé was invited by Hakimi to watch the group match, confirming once again the solidity of their relationship.

Christmas between football and the African Cup

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Taking advantage of the Christmas break granted by La Liga, Mbappé chose to spend these days in Morocco, immersing himself in the atmosphere of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. There was also talk of a possible presence of Ousmane Dembélé, which was later canceled due to already scheduled commitments: the attacker is in fact in Dubai to participate in the Globe Soccer Awards.